Street lights are to be switched back on in a Powys village after a public-spirited carer paid nearly £300 from his own pocket.Powys County Council today confirmed that streetlights in Llangynog, near Oswestry, would be back on by Wednesday.

Mike Atherton, 60, said he was very concerned that residents were being trapped in their homes once darkness fell.

He added that he felt compelled to pay for them to be switched back on with his own money.

He said: “I am absolutely delighted the council will be putting the streetlights back on after I paid the money for it.

“People are too scared to go out and it is dangerous. Just last night a lady fell in Penybontfawr because she could not see, and cut her face.”

Mr Atherton said that to celebrate the switch-on he is hosting a party in the New Inn, Llangynog, on Wednesday at 4pm.

“Anyone is welcome to come and celebrate the switch-on with us, which will also double up as an anti-council demonstration.”

A total of 9,000 lights are being turned off by the council in a bid to save £225,000 and reduce the authority’s carbon footprint.

But the move to turn off two out of three streetlights has come under criticism from councillors, politicians and residents, who feel public safety is being put at risk.

Mr Atherton said: “The council has been totally irresponsible in switching so many lights off which is causing a severe threat to public safety.

“I believe the switch-off has left elderly and vulnerable people in real danger, trapped in their homes and deprived of any social life.

“The village car park is not lit which makes it difficult to use the only public telephone.

“It also affects holidaymakers staying in the caravan parks who don’t want to walk into a darkened village and it threatens the business of our two pubs and the evening paper round.

“The switch-off has a detrimental psychological effect on people, which is why I offered to pay for the lights to go back on for Christmas and up until the end of March.”

John Evans, council communications manager, said: “We have received a request and payment from Mr Atherton’s community council and the lights will be turned on by Wednesday.”

By Andrew Morris